The warehouse is BIG! We started our tour seeing them use a 6ton crane to uncover the "rib" supports of the airplane wings. We followed the production all the way through.
FedEx is the largest US customer of Boeing.
Speaking of large, here we are in front of the 777's engine. Huge! In comparison, on our flight leaving Seattle, we flew on a 737. The boys could not believe how small the engines were.
This is the last plane that will be delivered to FedEx this calendar year. It was just about done. It was going to be wheeled out in the next day or two to get its full paint job.
Inside the belly of the plane -
The packages are put in containers which are then loaded on the tracks that you see. They can be configured in lots of different ways.
Behind us, workers were on their hands and knees sealing the tracks to prevent water damage. It is surprising how much manual labor is involved in making a plane. I guess that is one reason why they are so darn expensive.
When we finished at the plant, we boarded shuttles and headed for the finished planes.
Some of the planes were out there without engines. Instead, they had heavy weights hanging from where the engines would be. We found out the engines are leased property. And, GE doesn't like having its engines out there subject to weather and damage. I guess if a plane is not sold, then the engines get removed until it is sold.
We got to go into this almost finished FedEx plane. I think it was about a week away from FedEx taking ownership. When they complete the sale, there is an entire enterage involved in the process. Our tour guide commented that it is very impressive to see the transfer take place.
This plane, in particular, was contracted to achieve certain mileage. It had been on a few test flights and was going to do a few more in California before coming "home" to Memphis. These 777s are the planes FedEx uses to fly to Asia. Behind the cockpit were a row of four very nice "jump" seats. Someone mentioned they may use those seats to carry additional pilots depending on how far/how long the trip is.
There is one pilot that picks up most of the brand new planes and flies them back to Memphis. It turns out, that pilot is the father of Adam's sixth grade teacher. What a small world!
Just incase we did not see enough, we got another treat. We got to get on a just-about-finished Emirates plane. They are the airlines known for luxury. Their tickets are extremely expensive. The plane was over the top. We got to see the coach, business and first class. I just could not figure out when you would need all this. You'd have to be going on an extremely long flight.
Peanut got to sit in a fist class seat. Each passenger gets a room-type area.
We went into the tour thinking it would be a couple hours. Over four hours later, we were leaving Boeing. It was so impressive! We saw the 777s, the 747s, and a 787s. Everything is so big that you lose perspective. All is very organized and clean. It was an amazing tour. Pumpkin deemed it the best part of our trip!!
1 comment:
It is a very small world because you are from Cincinnati where those engines are made! That is what my Dad did for his whole career- designed those jet engines at GE. I think it would be fascinating to see. Craig and I were looking at the photos and we both thought of Tom Hanks (how can you not?!). It is amazing how much is moved daily by Fed Ex! We're so thankful for your company!!!
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